Houston Astros Manager Dusty Baker Says Chicago White Sox Sign Stealing Allegations “Heavy Charges”

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CHICAGO – Astros manager Dusty Baker rebuffed Chicago White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera’s comments about Houston’s potential sign theft, calling them “serious accusations.”

“It’s pretty much the same races, OPS and everything that we are – well, actually, better on the road than we are at home,” Baker said Monday afternoon. “And I think they’re actually better at home than they’re on the road.

“So I don’t have much of an answer to that other than I was listening to Eric Clapton this morning, and he had a song, ‘Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look at Yourself).’ … You know what I mean? That’s all I have to say. “

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Tepera hinted after Sunday’s 12-6 victory for the White Sox in Game 3 of the American League Division Series that the Astros could steal signs when playing at home, although he didn’t indicated if they were doing it legally.

“They obviously have a reputation for doing sketchy things there, and we can say it’s a little different,” Tepera said after Game 3 on Sunday night. “I think you saw the swings and the hiccups tonight compared to the first two games at Minute Maid [Park]. “

The Astros struck 16 times on strikes in Game 3 in Chicago, their first two games combined. Houston placed fourth in home OPS in the American League during the regular season and first on the road; the White Sox were third at home and seventh away.

The Astros were disciplined by Major League Baseball after discovering the team were using electronic devices to steal signs during their 2017 World Series title run and again in the 2018 season.

The MLB investigation found that Houston was using a video feed from a central camera to see and decode the opposing receiver’s signs during home games. The players knocked on a trash can to alert hitters to what was to come, believing it would improve the batter’s chances of hitting a hit.

The Astros haven’t been convicted of anything since.

“Are we aware that there are some teams that are better at relaying the signs at second baseline? Yeah, absolutely,” White Sox reliever Aaron Bummer said on Monday. “But does it make any difference to say it’s too sketchy? Maybe. I have no idea.”

Houston wide receiver Martin Maldonado posted on Twitter Monday that it was “always good to have extra motivation.”

Always good to have extra motivation

Machete Maldonado (@ Machete1224) October 11, 2021

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who played for the Astros in 2017, had little to say on Monday when asked about Tepera’s comments.

“Whatever works,” Bregman said. “Everything is fine. We’re just focusing on winning. That’s it.”

White Sox manager Tony La Russa did not give an opinion on Tepera’s comments, but he did approve of his reliever’s right to say whatever he wanted.

“I don’t go into that stuff,” La Russa said. “I’m not going. And I’m trying to realize it’s America, and the players can say whatever they want, and I can say I don’t want to go in if I want to. think they’re a very good team, and they’re tough to beat. That’s what I think. “

White Sox fans chanted “Cheater! Cheater! When Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Bregman struck on Monday.

“They’ll probably have to face it forever, really, because people don’t forget,” Baker said. “They’re passing information apparently from generation to generation. It’s just something, I feel bad, but it’s something we have to deal with.”

The Astros lead the series 2-1. Game 4 was postponed Monday due to weather and will be played on Tuesday. Game 5, if necessary, will be played Wednesday night in Houston. And if that happens, all eyes will be on the Astros again.

“People can say whatever they want,” Bregman said. “It’s perfect.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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